Monks’ Expiation (Pācittiya) 62

^{Bu-Pc.62.1.1 BD.3.3} … at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove in Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Now at that time the group of six monks knowingly made use of^[1] water that contained living things. Those who were modest monks … spread it about, saying:

“How can this group of six monks knowingly make use of water that contains living things?” …

“Is it true, as is said, that you, monks, knowingly made use of water that contained living things?”

“It is true, lord.”

The enlightened one, the lord, rebuked them, saying:

“How can you, foolish men, knowingly make use of water that contains living things? It is not, foolish men, for pleasing those who are not (yet) pleased … And thus, monks, this rule of training should be set forth:

“Whatever monk should knowingly make use of water that contains living things, there is an offence of expiation.”

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^Bu-Pc.62.2.1 Whatever means: … monk is to be understood in this case.

He knows means: he knows by himself or others tell him.^[2]

That contains living things means: if, knowing (this), he makes use of it knowing that “they will die from (this) use,” there is an offence of expiation.

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^{Bu-Pc.62.2.2 BD.3.4} If he thinks that it contains living things when it contains living things (and) makes use of it, there is an offence of expiation. If he is in doubt as to whether it contains living things (and) makes use of it, there is an offence of wrong-doing.^[3] If he thinks that it does not contain living things when it contains living things (and) makes use of it, there is no offence. If he thinks that it contains living things when it does not contain living things, there is an offence of wrong-doing. If he is in doubt as to whether it does not contain living things, there is an offence of wrong-doing. If he thinks that it does not contain living things when it does not contain living things, there is no offence.

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^Bu-Pc.62.2.3 There is no offence if he makes use of it not knowing that it contains living things, knowing that it does not contain living things, knowing that they will not die from this use; if he is mad, if he is the first wrongdoer.

The Second ^Vin.4.126

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

paribhuñjati. Vinaya Texts i.46 renders by “drink.” Buddhaghosa at Vin-a.865 mentions this, and also other uses of water, for washing (bowls e.g.), for bathing, and for sprinkling. Cf. Bu-Pc.20. See rules for filtering drinking water at Vin.2.118, and Introductory story to 31st Jātaka.

[2]:

Cf. Vin.4.49, Vin.4.67.

[3]:

Variant reading āpatti pācittiyassa, offence of expiation. See Vin.4.361.